LECTURE NOTES-CHAPTER 3

Concrete Technology

Prof. Dr. Özge Andiç-Çakır

A material other than
water,
aggregates,
hydraulic cement,
fiber reinforcement,
used as an ingredient of concrete or
mortar,
and added to the batch immediately before or during its mixing.
DEFINITION
Admixture modifies properties of the cement.

Air-Entraining Addition
Admixture
A functional addition is the admixture added to the cement at the
Admixture = Additive synonymous
plant instead of at the site.

Addition
Examples
An addition is a material that is interground or
Examples of processing addition would be a
blended in limited amounts into cement during
grinding aid or a fluxing agent.
manufacture.

Processing Addition
Functional Addition
A processing addition helps in the manufacturing or handling of
A functional addition modifies the properties of the cement.
cement.
CLASSIFICATION

General Classification
Admixtures are generally classified with respect to the characteristic
effects of their use as:
Air-entraining admixtures

Accelerating admixtures
Set-controlling admixtures

Water-reducing admixtures Mineral admixtures

Miscellaneous admixtures.
USES OF ADMIXTURES – Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Increase workability without

increasing water content or decrease
the water content at the same
workability.
USES OF ADMIXTURES - Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Retard or accelerate time of initial

setting.
USES OF ADMIXTURES - Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Reduce or prevent shrinkage or create

slight expansion.
USES OF ADMIXTURES - Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Modify the rate and/or capacity for

bleeding.
USES OF ADMIXTURES - Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Reduce segregation.
USES OF ADMIXTURES - Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Improve pumpability.
USES OF ADMIXTURES - Fresh concrete, mortar or grout

Reduce the rate of slump loss.

USES OF ADMIXTURES – Hardened concrete, mortar or grout

Retard or reduce the early heat evolution Accelerate the rate of strength Increase strength Increase durability
development

Decrease permeability Increase concrete-reinforcement bond Improve impact and abrasion resistance Produce colored concrete or mortar
Admixtures Compliance
Admixtures should conform to applicable specifications.
Considerations in the
Use of Admixtures-1
Manufacturer Instructions
Careful attention should be given to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Laboratory Evaluations
The effects of an admixture should be evaluated by means of laboratory investigations
whenever possible with the particular materials and conditions of intended use.
Laboratory Evaluation of Admixtures

Temperature Concerns Previous Use

Mixing and placing is done at temperatures well The admixture has not been used previously with the
outside the common concreting temperatures. particular combination of materials;

Multiple Admixtures Special Cements

More than one admixture is to be used; Special types of cements are specified;
Considerations in the Use of Admixtures-3

A change in type or source of cement or amount of cement,

or a modification of aggregate grading or mix proportions
may be desirable;

The effects of some admixtures are significantly changed

Many admixtures affect more than one property of
by such parameters as water content, cement content,
concrete, sometimes adversely affecting desirable
aggregate type and grading, and by type and length of
properties;
mixing.
Admixture Limitations Admixture
An admixture is not a panacea for poor mix design or sloppy concrete practice.
Considerations
Admixtures should not replace good practices.

User Responsibility
Ensure desired results cannot be achieved by improving mix design or concrete
practices.
Cost Effectiveness for
Admixtures-1

Economic evaluation of any given This is highly desirable since the results
admixture should be based on the obtained are affected significantly by the
results obtained - with the particular characteristics of the cement and
concrete in question- under conditions aggregate and their relative proportions,
simulating those expected on the job. as well as by temperature, humidity, and
curing conditions.
Cost Effectiveness for
Admixtures-2

Evaluating Admixture Effects Testing Effectiveness

In evaluating an admixture, its effect on the All such changes in the composition of a unit
volume of a given batch should be considered. volume of concrete must be taken into account
If the admixture changes the yield, as often is when testing the direct effectiveness of an
the case, the change in the properties of admixture and the benefits resulting from its
concrete will be due not only to direct effects of use.
the admixture but also to the changes in the
original mix proportions.
Cost of Handling Ingredients
The increase in cost due to handling an additional ingredient should be considered, as well as
Cost Effectiveness for
the economic effect the use of admixture may have on the cost of transporting, placing, and
finishing the concrete. Any effect on rate of strength development and speed of construction
Admixtures-3
should be taken into account.

Economies of Placement
In addition, placing economies, ability to pump at greater heads, and economies of concrete
cost versus competitive building materials must be realized. Water-reducing and set-retarding
admixtures permit placement of large volumes of concrete over extended periods, thus
minimizing the need for forming, placing, and joining separate units.

Cost Reduction
Accelerating admixtures reduce finishing and forming costs.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Air Entraining
An important disadvantage of concrete is its susceptibility to freezing and thawing cycles
when it is in a saturated or nearly saturated condition. Concrete can be badly damaged after a Admixtures
single winter if necessary measures are not taken.

Effect of Air Entrainment

This deterioration would preclude the use of concrete in numerous applications such as
pavements, dams, foundations, and so on. Fortunately, concrete can be made freeze-thaw
resistant by the use of air-entraining admixtures.
 Freeze-Thaw Effect
100x100x100 mm Concrete Cube Specimens after 140 Freeze-Thaw Cycle

Cement Dosage
350 kg/m3

26

No strength loss is observed for

air-entrained samples,
Control samples without air
entrainment can easily be
broken even by hand
 The Entrained Air-void System

The volume of air required to give optimum freeze-thaw resistance

is approximately 9% by volume of the mortar fraction of concrete.
In other words, the air content must be in the range of 4 to 8% by
volume of concrete for satisfactory protection.
The actual amount depends on the Dmax of the coarse aggregate
because more paste is required for a concrete having lower
maximum aggregate size and the air is actually entrained in the
cement paste.

27
The Entrained Air-void System

Optimum Air Content Dependence

Freeze-thaw Range on Aggregate
Resistance Size
 The Entrained Air-void System

The nature of the air-void system is also

important.
The air-entraining admixture causes the mixing
water to foam, and this foam is locked within
the paste during hardening.
The critical parameter of the air-entrained
paste is the spacing factor, defined as the
average maximum distance from any point in
the paste to the edge of a void. The spacing
factor should not exceed 0.2 mm. The smaller
the spacing factor, the more durable is the 29

concrete.
The voids should be small (0.05-1.25 mm
diameter) to obtain the required spacing
factor at relatively low air contents.
Air-entraining materials

Air-entraining agents
1
Contain compounds that promote stable foam formation within concrete.

Bubble formation
2
Normally a transient phenomenon; foams can be permanent if surface tension of water is overcome.

Air-entraining admixtures
3
Contain surface-active agents that stabilize bubbles by lowering surface tension.
Effect of Air
Entrainment on Fresh
Concrete
Workability and Cohesiveness Reduction in Water Content

Air entrainment improves the workability and A concrete mix's water content can be reduced
cohesiveness of fresh concrete. Air-entrained by 20-30 kg/m3 for a 5% increase in air content.
concrete is more workable than a non-air- This partially offsets the strength reduction that
entrained mix at the same slump. Bleeding and accompanies the air entrainment.
segregation are considerably reduced in air-
entrained concretes.

Keeping everything else constant, a 5% air

entrainment increases the slump of concrete by
about 15 to 50 mm. The reason for improved
workability is that air bubbles behave as low-
friction, elastic, fine aggregate, reducing
interactions between solid aggregate particles.
Effect of Air
Entrainment on
Hardened Concrete
Decrease in Strength Resistance to Freezing

The introduction of additional void space with Excessive amounts of air will drastically lower
air entrainment results in a 10-20% decrease in the strength and reduce the resistance to
strength. However, air-entrainment may not freezing. The high air contents generally
affect the strength of lean concretes (cement indicate larger bubble sizes rather than smaller
content < 300 kg/m3) since the adverse effect spacing factors.
can be overcome by the reduction in W/C ratio
due to increased workability.
Durability factor vs. air content

PN
D.F =
300

P: percentage of initial
dynamic modulus after N
cycles
ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES

1 2 3 4

Set-accelerating admixtures: Very rapid setting agents Conventional accelerators Accelerators in winter
Normal or Rapid? Used for plugging leakages and for Used to speed up construction by Overcome slower rate of development
emergency repair where rapid permitting early finishing, early removal at low temperatures and shorten the
development of rigidity is required. of forms, early strength development. period for protection against freezing
(shotcrete admixtures) damage.
ACCELERATING ADMIXTURES

Accelerators increase hydration rate.

They shorten the dormant period.

Increase early strength of concrete.

Depends on type and dosage of the accelerating agent.

Late strength may be lower.

This is compared to concretes without any accelerating agent.
 ACCELERATING
ADMIXTURES

1 2

May increase the rate of drying shrinkage and Help to produce smaller air bubble sizes and
creep but not their ultimate value. smaller spacing factors in air-entrained
concrete, leading to a desirable air-void system
for frost resistance.
 Offsetting Effects of High Temperatures
Retarders can be used whenever it is desirable to offset the effects of high temperatures
RETARDING
1
which decrease the setting time, or to avoid complications when unavoidable delays may
occur between mixing and placing.
ADMIXTURES

Prolonging Plasticity of Fresh Concrete

2 Prolonging the plasticity of fresh concrete can be used to advantage in placing mass
concrete. Successive lifts can be blended together by vibration, with the elimination of
cold joints that would occur if the first lift were to harden before the next were placed.
Mechanism of Effect
RETARDING
Retarders have exactly the opposite action that accelerators have: They decrease the rate ADMIXTURES
of hydration of C3S and elongate the dormant period. It must not be forgotten that when
the retarder dosage exceeds a certain critical value, C3S hydration will never proceed
beyond stage 2 and the cement paste will never set.

Effect on Strength

The retarding power of an admixture increases when its addition to concrete is delayed a
few minutes after the first addition of water. When a retarder is used, 1-day strength
reduces. However, this difference is closed within seven days, unless an overdosage is
used. Retarding admixtures increase the rate of drying shrinkage and creep but not the
ultimate values.
WATER-REDUCING ADMIXTURES

Water-reducing admixture benefits

1
Lowers the water requirement for a given slump.

Improvement of W/C ratio

2
Achieving desired slump with less water at constant cement content.

Lowering Cement content

3
Attaining desired slump without changing W/C ratio by lowering cement content.

Increased slump
4
Facilitates difficult placements without changing water and cement contents.
WATER-REDUCING ADMIXTURES

Types of Admixtures Plasticizers Superplasticizers Factors Affecting Reduction

Water reducing admixtures are divided Achieve 5-10% water reduction. Achieve 15-30% water reduction. Depends on cement fineness, mix
into two groups. proportions, temperature of concrete,
and time of addition.
Mechanism of Effect
Water Reducing
They are adsorbed at the solid-water interface. Cement particles carry charges on their ADMIXTURES
surfaces, which may be positive, negative, or both. The opposing charges on the adjacent
particles exert electrostatic attractions, causing particles to flocculate.

The molecules of water-reducing agents attach themselves to cement particles, either

neutralising these charges or causing all surfaces to carry uniform charges of like sign.
Thus, particles repel each other and remain fully dispersed in the mix.

Effect of superplasticizer on cement.

A: Cement + water.
B: Cement + water+ superplasticizer.
MISCELLANEOUS ADMIXTURES

1 2 3

Types of Admixtures Consumption Comparison Bonding Admixtures

There are many other types of admixtures that are The consumption of these various materials added Used for bonding new concrete surfaces to the old
commercially available. together is less than the amount used of any single ones.
type discussed so far.

4 5 6

Corrosion Inhibitors Dampproofing Admixtures Expansion-Producing Admixtures

Corrosion inhibitors can be classified in three Expansion producing admixtures are substances
Dampproofing admixtures impart water
main groups: Anodic, cathodic and mixed added to concrete or cement mixtures to induce
repellency and may reduce moisture
inhibitors. Anodic and cathodic corrosion expansion to counteract shrinkage and prevent
migration by capillary action.
inhibitors act respectively on the anodic areas of cracking.
the reinforcing steel (reacting with corrosion
products to form a passive film), or on the
cathodic areas (acting as an oxygen barrier).